Stevenson faces a new test as defending champ

Herb Zurkowsky, THE GAZETTE09.26.2013

WBC light-heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson flexes in Montreal, Friday,, during the weigh-in prior to his world title defence against Tavoris Cloud which takes place on Saturday, Sept. 28, in Montreal.

MONTREAL — Adonis Stevenson passed his first test last June, becoming a world champion. Now we’ll find out what he’s truly made of.

It’s one thing to become a champ in professional boxing. But the truly elite fighters enjoy a long reign at the top of their weight divisions.

Lucian Bute won the International Boxing Federation super-middleweight title in October 2007, successfully defending it nine times before he was stopped by Carl Froch in May 2012. Jean Pascal wasn’t as fortunate, yet still defended his World Boxing Council light-heavyweight crown four times over 23 months before losing to Bernard Hopkins.

Stevenson makes the first defence of the WBC’s version of his 175-pound title Saturday night at the Bell Centre against Tavoris Cloud, a former IBF champ in the same weight class. The 12-round bout, expected to begin at approximately 10:30 p.m., will be televised in the U.S. by HBO and on pay-per-view in Canada.

Stevenson captured the title last June in a stunning and electrifying manner, requiring only 76 seconds to dismantle Chad Dawson, sending the American to the canvas with a crushing left hand.

“This is the perfect opponent for Adonis to blossom, to show what he’s made of,” promoter Yvon Michel said at Friday afternoon’s weigh-in. “Everybody knows (Cloud) can punch. He (Stevenson) won’t blow this guy out with one punch, for sure. Cloud’s a strong light-heavyweight. He’ll come and brawl, push and try hard.

“I believe he has everything it takes for Adonis to show his overall skill, his talent. That will confirm that Adonis has everything it takes to be champion for a long time.”

The 36-year-old Stevenson, a southpaw originally from Haiti, came to Montreal at age 4 and now calls Blainville home. He has lost only once in 22 bouts while recording 18 KOs. He has stopped his last 12 opponents. Ten overall have failed to escape the opening round.

Cloud, 31, hails from Tallahassee, Fla., and is coming off a lethargic performance last March against 48-year-old Bernard Hopkins, who scored a unanimous 12-round decision. It was Cloud’s first defeat as a pro following 24 victories — 19 by KO.

Cloud hasn’t stopped an opponent since 2011 and hasn’t knocked anyone out since 2008. This is only his fourth bout since December 2010.

While HBO immediately fell in love with Stevenson after his dismantling of Dawson, Montreal fight fans, it would appear, have been slower to gravitate toward Canada’s only world champ.

As of Friday morning, according to Michel, slightly more than 7,000 tickets had been sold. When Bute and Pascal meet — the showdown’s scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Bell Centre — the hockey arena will be filled to capacity.

“With one punch, he became an instant star in the U.S., but not here. It will take a little longer,” Michel said. “He’s a world champion, but not a celebrity in Quebec — yet.

“But I believe he has what it takes to be a long champion. He has boxing IQ with that punching power. With his habit, life and discipline, he’ll be there for long.”

HBO has the right of first refusal in future Stevenson bouts, and it was the American-based specialty network that specifically wanted Cloud for the first defence. The WBC sanctioned the fight — only after it was agreed the winner would meet England’s Tony Bellew, the mandatory challenger.

Stevenson has a rematch clause in his contract should he lose against Cloud — just as Dawson’s contract called for a rematch against Stevenson.

“To see an elite fighter like Chad Dawson be subject to such an explosive knockout in the first round of a main event on HBO, is the type of performance, one-punch knockout capability that few fighters possess,” said Peter Nelson, director of programming for HBO Sports. “I don’t believe in lucky punches at an elite level.

“When a fighter captures the imagination of fight fans, that does a lot for the acceleration of his own career. That’s the type of energy that’s generated from a one-punch KO. Obviously, Adonis became a priority to get in front of the public again.”

Stevenson has matured since defeating Dawson. He remains confident and brash, yet smiles easily and appears almost at ease.

“The title gave him the opportunity to show who he really is,” Michel said. “Before, he was trying to find his place. Now he’s there. He doesn’t need to play a game. He’s just himself.”

Stevenson launched his career as a 168-pound super-middleweight before moving up a class to challenge for the title. His path changed when he went to Detroit’s famed Kronk gym, working under legendary trainer Emanuel Steward. When Steward died last year from an intestinal ailment his nephew, Jovan Hill, assumed control, working hard to refine Stevenson’s technique and making him become more complete.

“I like everything about Adonis — his confidence, that he knows where he came from,” Hill said. “He knows what it feels like to be a challenger and wanting something so bad.”

Both Stevenson and Cloud easily made weight — Stevenson at 173.8 and Cloud at 174.6. The referee is Montreal’s Michael Griffin. The three judges are American Steve Morrow, Canada’s Claude Paquette and Belgium’s Daniel Van de Wiele.

Pascal, who hasn’t fought since last December, highlights the undercard. He has a 10-round bout against Indianapolis’s George Blades.

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